*Jhanvi Pov*

I just stood there staring at her sleeping form with all the toys she likes surrounding her. Why did I rush into all this? Where was thinking and the past mistakes?

Wasn't once enough with my jumping into everything and returning with nothing? Now, again, I rushed into more complicated things.

But... but standing here, I know it is not a complete bad thing. She was... she was too alone and I have seen her looking lost when one day the people came to adopt but didn't glance at her.

Wasn't I there? Wasn't I having the same feel of lost when people used to come to the hospital and choose the kids? Didn't I try to settle myself with just the life I got, feeling great full for it.

Isn't the reason for my rush behind that person craving for such belongingness? Isn't it the reason for being pushed to the edge of a cliff in the life and thrown over by the betrayal?

How can I let someone else get the same fate? I may can't do it for everyone else but this little girl will not have such future.

But what I did is right? Because in the end she got a father figure who was supposed to be the only bad person in this world for me and now Ali added himself to it.

And god! What will Kalpana say if she gets to know about my marriage? Marriage! What was I thinking?

Can I... can I just turn the time and escape from this? I thought and glanced at Lakshmi with a smile, knowing well I wouldn't want to.

"She slept off?" a voice brought me out of my thoughts and I stiffened before nodding.

"Shall we have dinner?" he asked again and I nodded again.

"Look, you can talk to me. It's not like something will happen if you do that." He said sighing.

"I am not talking because I don't want to." I stated and turned to walk out, but saw him standing near the door with stillness.

"Fair enough but you have to bear my talking though." He said after a few seconds shrugging and walked away.

"Here!" he said suddenly when I was about to stand up finishing my dinner which was a silent affair.

"What is it?" I asked him, frowning at the card and keys.

"These are house keys and the card is for any expenses or any needs you want to buy." He replied normally.

"I don't want your money. And I already bought for Lakshmi for this month and even more." I said pushing them back.

"You are my wife and it is nothing." He said with a frown and confused face.

"I am not your wife and I can take care of myself." I said taking a deep breath.

"How?" he asked, leaning over.

"I have decided to go for work." I replied and he sighed.

"You do not think do you? She just arrived today and you want to leave her here and go?" he asked closing his eyes.

"I will have a night duty and at that time, she will be sleeping." I replied through gritted teeth and stood up.

"And I do know how to take care of kids. I have already done it and..." I stopped in mid sentence and gasped for air realizing what I was talking about.

"Shh... please don't think about it." I heard the words and even felt the arms around me but I was shaking.

"You can't go back with Lakshmi to be taken care for." With that words I turned to stare at his face.

"Lakshmi?" he asked and I nodded, taking deep breaths before pushing his arms away from me.

"Now, go to sleep, but first tell me your job timings." He said and I frowned at him.

"I still haven't talked at my previous job place. I have to talk and then see whether I will be offered my job back or not." I explained.

"Even after getting, you will not have the money immediately in your hands. Just take them for now and later pay me back." He suddenly said and placed the card and the keys in my hands with force.

"Now, go and sleep like a good wife." He said, moving me away while I gaped at him.

"What?" he asked and I shook my head before walking away.

I sat up hearing a very faint knock and walked to the door before opening it to see Lakshmi standing there with her old doll.

"Come." I mumbled, taking her with me and laid her on my bed before laying myself over it.

"Now sleep!" I said, kissing her forehead and we both drifted off into sleep.

After a few hours, I heard a knock making me frown. I got up and opened the door to see him standing with a worried expression.

"Have you seen Lakshmi?" he asked and I nodded.

"She is with me." I replied, to which he nodded back.

"I came to drink water, but then thought of checking up on her and saw that she is not there. So, I decided to ask you and then search the house." He continued to talk.

How much will he talk? I thought, frowning and just nodded to all his words. He stood there for a second and walked away while I closed the door.

"Good morning!" I mumbled seeing that she is already awake and sitting beside me when I opened my eyes.

She smiled back and hugged her doll. I got and started freshening up before taking her to her room and got her ready.

We both started walking towards the dining room but stopped hearing the conversation coming from inside.

"But sir, I need not look at madam anymore." The maid said and I frowned.

"I know! But what if she gets ill and you can't put all work on her when now she has to take care of Lakshmi too. I told you that will pay enough money right and will also give you the recommendations." He said and I frowned more.

"You are still leaving the city, Sir?" she asked in a shocked tone.

"It got postponed." That's all he replied and I walked completely inside.

"How are you today, Madam?" maid said, seeing me and I nodded at her with a small smile.

"Good morning!" he said, looking at both of us.

"No greeting?" he asked, staring at Lakshmi and she smiled at him.

"Breakfast?" he asked, gesturing me to the plates arranged.

I sat and made her sit beside me before asking the maid for Lakshmi's breakfast. After making her eat, I ate mine and saw that he already finished, but is sitting there reading his paper.

I felt a tug to my hand and saw Lakshmi gesturing me to get her down, after which she immediately moved away towards her room and I let her.

"What are you playing at?" I asked and he immediately pushed down the paper with a frown.

"I don't understand!" he replied.

"You are calling me your wife and being here when there is no need with your need at the office. Didn't you have a problem with your company? What are you still doing here?" I asked him.

"I am just calling you because you are and I am not claiming any rights by the way. And yes, I have a problem which can wait. I had enough years of having food here and now even thought there is a change, I also know it is for some time only. So, I am trying to enjoy it, but if you are feeling uncomfortable, then I will not be in your presence." He said standing up.

"Why are you acting like this? Like... like some saint bearing each word of mine and accepting everything?" I asked finally the thought that is killing me from the time I became conscious of my surroundings.

I expected him to be literally a monster, but... but he is something else here. Why is he acting and what will he gain with his act?

"I am definitely not a saint, but just got the knowledge of what I lost because of my stupidity and trying to not let anyone else get hurt because of me. I know I already won first prize in that category." He replied and walked away while I sat there.

Did I say too much? But... but I saw what happened to Kalpana because of him. I saw how lifeless she was and I know he was the reason.

I shook my head, deciding to not think about all this and went in search for Lakshmi. By evening I called my hospital for the job and to my luck it is still there.

However, after making her have the dinner early, I sat on the couch worried for tomorrow. I was so lost that I didn't hear the door opening also.

I glanced up to see him walking but stopped seeing me. Then he again started walking, but again stopped in his place for a few seconds before walking towards me.

"What happened?" he asked directly.

"I can go for my job from tomorrow." I replied and he frowned.

"And?" he asked more, but I shook my head.

"It is nothing and just leave it." I replied.

"You can tell me." He said, but I shook my head.

"I will sit here and turn my back to you and you start talking if you don't like talking to my face." He said and sat on the chair beside me with his back while I stared at him with shock.

Is he for real? I thought I already know him, but he is really weird. I frowned and saw that he is waiting.

"I left the place saying I am going with my husband and in short I literally flaunted the reason. Now, if I go there will be questions and I..." I trailed off to which he sighed.

"You can work at some other hospital." He pointed out.

"I love that hospital." I stated back.

"Fine! Just tell them the truth. It is not like you have any mistake in all this. It was that bastard's and it will be his. You don't have any need to stop your wish or anything because of him. So, just go and tell the truth if you want to or ignore. No one is going to forcefully open your mouth to hear." He talked and talked and talked.

"And you can give some philosophical lines to back them away from you." He added.

"Like?" I asked curious about that.

"We all expect something, but something else happens." He said after a few minutes and I don't know how I stopped my laugh to that because I really wanted to and that too with the dramatic tone he used.

"Now, I will go and freshen up. If you don't want to see my face, then you can have your dinner and leave by that time." He said standing up.

"I already had feeding Lakshmi." I said to which he nodded without looking at me and walked away while I continued to stare until he is out of sight.

*Jay Pov*

I walked inside the house feeling tired and immediately looked up to see a presence. Jhanvi is pacing near the couch and is in a white saree.

"What is it?" I asked frowning.

"You are here? I am getting late for my work." She replied lifting her bag.

"Lakshmi is already asleep. I will be here by five in the morning." She added and I frowned at her.

"How will you go?" I asked to which she frowned back.

"Bus!" she replied but I shook my head.

"Take my car and go. You know how to drive right?" I asked immediately.

"I know! But I can't take your car." She replied shaking her head.

"Either that or I will wake Lakshmi and drop you with her in the car." I stated and she gave an irritated look before taking the keys from my hand before starting to walk away.

"Be careful!" I added which she ignored and walked away.

I had my dinner alone again like yesterday and sat on the couch watching the television. However, after an hour I felt a movement and turned to see Lakshmi walking towards Jhanvi room.

"She went for work." I said softly getting up and walked near to her.

"Not getting any sleep?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Hmm... come then." I mumbled lifting her up and walked back to the couch before sitting on it with her beside me.

"We will see some cartoon and don't tell your mom that I let you watch TV this late though." I said and changed the channel before reaching the cartoon one.

For sometime she was engrossed into it and then finally dropped her eyes before sleeping making her head fall on my lap.

After a few minutes, I switched off the TV and lifted her up before taking her to her room and laid her on the bed before sitting on the chair in the room.

I woke up with a start hearing the car sound and walked out of the room to just see the door opening and she stared at me with shock.

"Why are you still here?" she asked checking her watch and I glanced at the clock to see it is past five.

"How was the first day?" I asked back.

"It was nice with not many questions." She replied vaguely.

"So, it was not like you worried then. It is a good thing and I am sure you will feel better soon." I said smiling but she just stood there.

"Okay! Good night!" I said turning away and climbed the stairs to reach my room.

I lay on the bed and immediately felt the neck pain but drifted off into sleep feeling tired. However, smiled remembering the way Lakshmi enjoyed the cartoons because I never did.

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hey guys! so, here is it the next update...

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